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The Ultimate Brown Butter Sugar Cookies: Chewy Centers and Crisp Edges

A stack of four golden brown butter sugar cookies, coated in sparkling sugar, sitting on a white plate near a window.
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Make rich, flavorful sugar cookies using browned butter for a deep, nutty taste. This recipe yields cookies with satisfyingly chewy centers and slightly crisp edges, perfect for simple enjoyment or decorating.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Place the butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter completely, then continue cooking, stirring occasionally. The butter will foam, then subside. Watch closely for small brown specks to form at the bottom and for a nutty aroma. This takes about 5 to 8 minutes. Immediately pour the browned butter (including the brown bits) into a heatproof bowl to stop the cooking process. Let it cool for 15 minutes until it is slightly warm but not hot.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the cooled brown butter and 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar until well combined.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Divide the dough in half, wrap each half in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour. Chilling helps prevent spreading.
  6. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
  8. Place the cutouts onto the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle lightly with extra granulated sugar, if desired.
  9. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. The centers may still look slightly soft.
  10. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • To achieve perfect brown butter, use a light-colored pan so you can clearly see the milk solids turning brown.
  • If you plan to decorate these gourmet sugar cookies, chilling the cutouts for an extra 15 minutes before baking will help them hold their shape better.
  • These flavorful sugar cookies are excellent plain, but they pair well with a simple vanilla glaze or cream cheese frosting.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbycarla.com/brown-butter-sugar-cookies-recipe/